On behalf of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), representing 800,000 members in South Korea, I would like to express solidarity to the Philippino trade union movements and allied organizations including the KMU in its struggles to call on the government of Philippines to stop trade union repression and political killings.

The KCTU condemns these repressions, assassinations and summary executions as unwarranted and not according to the law. At the same time, they demonstrate the failure of the government to govern justly and maintain the peace. The government is here to create an environment of progress, yes, but it should not be at the expense of a greater right – the right of life.

In particular, we are outraged that 64 of our colleagues in the trade union movement and informal workers association have been killed since 2001. They are part of the more than 750 victims of political killings in the Philippines recorded as of September 2006. We strongly condemn and denounce the political killings as the worst form of political repression. It is an outright violation of an individual